1991 Georgian independence referendum

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1991 Georgian independence referendum
31 March 1991
Do you support the restoration of the independence of Georgia in accordance with the Act of Declaration of Independence of Georgia of 26 May 1918?
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 3,295,493 99.49%
No 16,917 0.51%
Valid votes 3,312,410 99.59%
Invalid or blank votes 13,690 0.41%
Total votes 3,326,100 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 3,672,403 90.57%
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An independence referendum was held in the Republic of Georgia on 31 March 1991. It was approved by 99.5% of voters.[1]

Background

The referendum was sanctioned by the Georgian

new union treaty on 17 March,[2] Georgia became the fourth Soviet republic, after the three Baltic states (Lithuania on 9 February 1991 and Latvia and Estonia on 3 March), to organize the referendum on the issue of independence.[3]

The only question of the referendum asked: "Do you support the restoration of the independence of Georgia in accordance with the Act of Declaration of Independence of Georgia of May 26, 1918?" The official results showed over 99% in favor with a 90.6% voter turnout.[1] Due to the ongoing ethnic discord, the polls were largely boycotted by the non-Georgian population in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.[3][4]

Four days after the final results were announced, the Georgian Supreme Council unanimously passed the declaration of independence on the second anniversary of the Soviet army crackdown on peaceful protests in Tbilisi on 9 April 1989.[5][6]

The referendum coincided with a private visit of the former

U.S. President Richard Nixon who visited a few polling stations in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi before his departure to Moscow later that day.[7]

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For3,295,49399.49
Against16,9170.51
Total3,312,410100.00
Valid votes3,312,41099.59
Invalid/blank votes13,6900.41
Total votes3,326,100100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,672,40390.57
Source: Nohlen et al., Direct Democracy

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-19-924958-X
  2. ISBN 1-85743-137-5
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 91-506-1600-5
    .
  4. ISBN 0-7546-4503-7
    .
  5. ^ Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia, p. 171.
  6. ISBN 0-253-20915-3
    .
  7. ^ Soviet Georgians vote on independence. The Boston Globe, April 1, 1991.
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